These are the days to return or exchange any incorrectly sized pieces of armour you may have received for Christmas - 1320s, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.754, f. 70r

Off their heads and arguing - Typical family Christmas - 14th century, Bibliothèque municipale, MS 107, f. 99v

As he bent down to pick up the packages he’d dropped, the impact of the 32,345 mince pies he’d eaten in the last 90 minutes began to show - 14th century, BnF Latin 757, f. 286v

Discovering you’re on the naughty list this Christmas - 15th century, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1045, f. 228v

You were so sure this last present under the tree was going to be the video game you wanted so badly - 13th century, BnF Français MS 25526, f. CXLVIIr

Sunday’s ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 15th century, BnF Latin MS 1178, f. 91v

Please remember, cute as they might be, weird little medieval pets are not just for Christmas, they’re for life - 14th century, British Library, Stowe MS 17, f. 182v

The moment the medieval office Christmas party really gets going - 13th century, Getty Museum Collection, Ms. 46 (92. MK.92)

“ I told you no baby would want frankincense. Quick, try the gold. ” - 12th century, Copenhagen Psalter, Det Kongelige Bibliotek, Thoth 143 2*, f. 11r

“ All right!! Listen up, there’s a new shepard in town now. Starting today, things are going to be different ‘round here. For one, I can tell you I’ll be needing a lot more mint sauce, if you know what I mean! ” - 13th century, Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 533, f. 8v

Father Christmas Tree - 17th century, Nürnberger Schembart-Buch, Cod. ms. KB 395, p. 255

John lay by the mound looking rather glum, But it wasn't because he lacked coin or crumb. As a matter of fact, It was all just an act. He was just trying to hide his massive left thumb. 14th century, Bodleian Library MS. Douce 332, f. 38r

Call for papers: the International Conference "Military Orders IX: Documents and Monuments" (to be held at the University of Malta 9-12 Sept 2026) invites proposals for papers of 20 minutes and panels. Submission deadline for proposals: 31 Jan 2026. Details here: www.um.edu.mt/events/milit...

Young Daniel never felt more alive than the day he finally managed to get his homemade go-kart airborne - 15th century, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek - Clm 9716, f. 69r

Saturday’s brilliant ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 12th century, British Library, Sloan MS 1975, f. 81v

Alice found that when the king would begin to nod off during meetings, she could quickly return his focus with a short, sharp adjustment of his undergarments - 12th century, Bibliothèques d'Amiens Métropole, Ms. 108, f. 104r

Playing ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ for illuminated manuscripts - 15th century, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 291, f. 37r

A smiley serpent indicating a portion of the manuscript that was of interest or importance - 14th century, Bancroft Library, BANC MS UCB 085, f. 18v

“How many shopping days left till Christmas ?!?” - 1440, Morgan Library and Museum, MS M.917, p. 245

Medieval Word Search Puzzle - 9th century, Amiens. Bibliothèque municipale, Ms. 223, f. 3v

Knights in their Middle Age - 15th century, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. lat. 291, f. 15v

A rather worried looking ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 13th century, British Library, Sloane MS 278, f. 48v

Bob tried desperately to convince his long-suffering wife that the reason he was late was a sudden storm that had blown him several miles off course into a large vat of lager that he then couldn’t get himself out of - 15th century, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1045, f. 7v

🎅 ‘Reindeer Wrangler’, one of the North Pole’s toughest jobs at this time of year 🎅 - 14th century, Macclesfield Psalter, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 1-2005,, f. 193v

Tongue Tied - 11th century, BnF, Latin 5610A, f. 3r

The medieval holiday party season has officially begun - 14th century, Macclesfield Psalter, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 1-2005, f. 183r

Oscar had been warned about the dangers of placing his tongue on his spear in minus 10° C weather, but he just couldn’t help himself - 8th/9th century,  Amiens. Bibliothèque municipale, Ms. 172, f. 5v

Refilling your ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 15th century, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.1045, f. 22v

An elaborate hand with long, bendy fingers marking parts of the manuscript that were thought to be of importance or interest - 14th century, Bancroft Library, BANC MS UCB 085

Mobile manicule service - 13th/14th century, Montpellier. Bibliothèque interuniversitaire, Section Médecine, H 51, f. 138r

🎄 Tis the season for red hats with bells, green capes and that…ummm…joyous feeling 🎄 - 14th century, British Library, Royal MS 10 E IV, f. 76r

If you’re nervous speaking in front of an audience, just imagine they’re sat there in their underwear - 13th century, Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, 2200, f. 57v

When you begin seeing pigs in blankets, Christmas can’t be far behind - 15th century, BnF Latin MS 1178, f. 69r

Calum came in to get some cupping for his knee, And ended up with a cup in a place no cup should be. 15th century, British Library, Sloane MS 6, f. 177r

An ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 15th century, London, Wellcome Library, MS.626, f. 228r

Here it is. The newborn book. My thanks as always to #Trivent Publishing for a beautiful job. trivent-publishing.eu/home/214-404...

‘The Super Extender’, for when you need a little extra help getting to the point - 14th/15th century, University of Cambridge, Gonville and Caius College, MS 609/340, f. 5v

Gone hog-wild - 15th century, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.358 f. 2r

The ‘Fool's Cap World Map’, from 1590. The print uses a jester's face to display the world map of the time - Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Currently part of the British Library’s ‘Secret Maps’ exhibition.

Turning the tables - 15th century, Morgan Library & Museum, MS M.358, f. 1v

When you really need to stress where the most important bit of the text is - 15th century, Avignon,  Bibliothèque Ceccano - 1094, f. 195v

time for another ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 14th century, Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Cgm 5249(44 a, f. 5r

The arms of an octopus were used to mark specific parts of this page that were of importance or interest - 14th century, Bancroft Library, BANC MS UCB 085

Danny spent a fortune on hair restoration products, but nothing worked. He considered buying a realistic looking wig for £1,000, but in the end he decided that was just too much toupee - 15th century, BnF, Français 328, f. 37v

When you don’t quite meet the minimum height requirement to be king - 13th century, The Morgan Library and Museum, 024, MS M.429, f. 10v

Feeling rather out of plaice, Marina decided to quit her offish job and head back to school - 14th century, Cambridge University Library, MS Dd.4.17, f. 57r

When you don’t agree with what’s been written about you - 15th century, Glasgow, University Library, MS Hunter 369, f. 5r

Out. On The Town - 14th century, Paris, Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève, Ms. 15, f. 144r

e for the weekend, an ‘elephant done by a medieval artist that had never seen one’ - 15th century, Augsburg Universitätsbibliothek - Cod.I.2.2.24, f. 52r

Late medieval bead, likely from a rosary, with a skull on one side and a face on the other, indicating just how closely live and death were intertwined. From the Museum of London Docklands exhibition, ‘Secrets of the Thames’